Ronaldo poses biggest threat yet to Polish rearguard

Poland have an impressive defensive record at Euro 2016 but standing in their way to a semi-final spot is arguably one of sport’s greatest-ever athletes, Cristiano Ronaldo.

The monstrous Polish centre back pairing of Michal Pazdan and Kamil Glik face their toughest challenge yet when they come up against Portugal in the last-eight clash in Marseille on Thursday, though their previous matches have not provided much by way of preparation for facing the Real Madrid star.

Describing 29-year-old Ronaldo as the “perfect athlete”, US lifestyle magazine Men’s Health says he hits speeds of more than 32kph, jumps nearly a metre in the air off one leg, runs an average of 16km per match and hits more winners in the last 20 minutes than anyone.

He is the only player to have scored a goal in four Euros going back to 2004 and, while he struggled to find his feet early in this year’s tournament, there are signs that he is back to his sublime best.

He scored twice in Portugal’s last group match against Hungary — an audacious back heel and a towering header — and has had a hand in two of his country’s other three goals, most importantly the shot that set up Ricardo Quaresma to score the easiest of extra-time winners in their last-16 win over Croatia.

For their part, Poland are good shotstoppers.

They have conceded just three goals all year and only one in the Euros, an outrageous bicycle kick by Switzerland’s Xherdan Shaqiri in their round-of-16 tie which they eventually won on penalties. Only Germany still have a clean sheet in Euro 2016.

Poland’s matches in France so far will have done little to prepare them for the pace, power and superhuman heading ability that Ronaldo possesses, however.

Their top-ranked opponents to date, Germany, fielded the diminutive Mario Goetze in their group-stage stalemate and the “false nine” presented little trouble in the box, constantly dropping back into midfield to pick up the ball.

Other group matches against Northern Ireland, who did not get a decent effort on target, and Ukraine, who departed after failing to score in any of their games, were fairly straightforward.

The late Shaqiri wonder goal in their last outing did unsettle the Poles, with Switzerland gaining the upper hand in extra time. But the rearguard held firm, forcing the tie to penalties.

That defence will have to be immaculate again if Poland are to have a chance of progressing because they have offered little up front.

They have scored two goals fewer than any other team in the last eight with hitman Robert Lewandowski, the leading scorer in Euro 2016 qualifying with 13 goals, mustering just two attempts on target so far, both in the last match.

The captain’s opening penalty in the shootout, which left the goalkeeper stranded as it flew into the top right corner, could be the confidence boost he needs.

It is the scintillating left winger Kamil Grosicki who presents the biggest danger for Portugal’s ageing but experienced defence led by 33-year-old Pepe.

For Polish coach Adam Nawalka, the Ronaldo factor presents a tactical conundrum. Is he prepared to press high in search of a goal, knowing that a wrong step could unleash the Portuguese counter-attack, or does he sit back and risk becoming just a spectator to another Ronaldo masterclass?

Whoever wins on Thursday will play either Wales or Belgium next, seen as the easier route to the final with hosts France, world champions Germany, Italy and surprise quarter-finalists Iceland on the other side of the draw.

Belgium final talk 

on hold

Belgium’s Euro 2016 title credentials were boosted by a big win over Hungary in the last 16 on Sunday but before they can even think about reaching the final they face a tricky rematch with recent conquerors Wales.

They played the Welsh in the qualifying competition for a place at the finals and lost 1-0 in Cardiff in June last year to a Gareth Bale goal following a 0-0 draw in Brussels.

Belgium coach Marc Wilmots is under no illusions about the challenge facing his side when they meet Wales — one of the tournament’s surprise packages in the quarter-final in Lille on Friday.

“We are not in the final yet,” Wilmots said. “Wales are a very strong side, and not just with Gareth Bale, they have other good players.

“They have annoyed us in the past because they play very deep. Now we are going to plan tactically for Wales and above all what is important for me is that the players rest well before the next match.”

Eden Hazard, the star of Belgium’s 4-0 trouncing of Hungary, also said they would not be underestimating Wales.

“They are a tricky side to play against. They have a very compact unit and they have a great player up front,” Hazard said referring to Bale.

Belgium’s “Golden Generation” will not need to be reminded of their experience at the 2014 World Cup, when they beat the United States in the Round of 16 but were disappointing in their quarter-final defeat against Argentina.

Wilmots, sometimes accused of not getting the best out of his players, thinks he has now hit on the right formula.

“I think our 4-3-2-1 formation, with almost four forwards, we were able to strike the right balance,” he said.

Despite Sunday’s emphatic win, Wilmots was upset about Belgium’s failure to translate first half dominance into goals.

“At half-time, we can’t come in at 1-0. We kept the game at 1-0 too long,” he said. “I told everyone to stay calm and told them to keep going because they were moving the ball very well.”

No German trauma

Germany’s dismal record against Italy in major tournaments is not a source of trauma for the world champions, who on Saturday will face their international nemesis in the Euro 2016 last eight, coach Joachim Loew said on Tuesday.

The Germans, who are four-time world champions and have also won three continental crowns, have always lost to Italy in World Cups and Euro knockout rounds, including in the 1970 World Cup last four, the 1982 World Cup final, a 2006 World Cup semifinal and a Euro 2012 semifinal.

The 2012 defeat was under Loew and was especially bitter, with the Germans, favourites at the time, exiting the competition following a 2-0 loss to the Italians.

“We have never beaten them in a tournament but we have no Italy trauma,” Loew said. “I do not rate the past too much.

“They are now a different team. That’s all cold coffee. A fresh espresso is better and I hope it tastes better on Saturday,” he said, taking a sip from his own coffee.

Italy advanced to the last eight with a 2-0 victory over holders Spain on Monday.

Loew, who led Germany to the 2014 World Cup title, said his players, who beat Italy 4-1 in a friendly in March, would be fully fit and rested when they faced the Italians in Bordeaux.

“We don’t fear them. We know what we can do and if we do it then we have a good chance to win it,” said the coach.

Germany went through to the last eight with a comfortable 3-0 win over Slovakia but Loew said not too much should be read into that victory.

“I think emotions from the outside are running pretty high. We were almost written off after our 0-0 [group match] against Poland. Then we win 3-0 and everything is great. Okay, we did it well… but with all due respect for our opponents, I don’t think that this victory was the measure for winning the tournament.

“What we need now is humility and modesty. Let’s keep the bar low, the ball on the ground. I have a good feeling for the weekend but we need to improve. What we have been playing is not enough to win this tournament; we have to get better.”